Signalling device for use in filling tanks



Aug. 30, 1955 A. E. MATHEY SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR USE IN FILLING TANKS Filed Feb. 20, 1953 United States Patent 2,716,389 'SIGNALLING DEVICE non USE IN FILLING TANKS Alcide Edward Mathey, Allston, Mass assignor to Scully Signal Company, (Zarnbridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 20, 1953, Serial No. 337,941

11 Claims. (Cl. 116-109) This invention relates to audible signalling devices of the type used in filling closed tanks.

It is now common practice in the fuel oil industry and particularly in connection with the filling of household fuel tanks to use an audible signalling device which advises the operator that the tank is being filled properly and an indication when the liquid level in the tank has risen to a desired predetermined point so that the operator will know that the supply should be discontinned.

Audible signalling devices of this type are installed in series with the tank and the vent pipe so that gas displaced in the tank by the entering liquid will pass through the signalling device on its way to the vent pipe and the outside atmosphere. A signalling device of the type in question is shown and described in the patent to Mathey, No. 2,135,522 of November 8, 1938 for Liquid Level Indicator.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a new signalling unit in which one of the passages therethrough is subdivided in a new and novel manner so as to produce an operating unit which is not subject to being put out of operation by the entry of bugs, bees, flies or other insects which have a tendency to enter fuel tank vent pipes during period of non-use and which in time may work their way into the whistling element to destroy its resonance.

Maintenance of the whistle in proper operating condition is of importance, for otherwise, the operator is handicapped in conducting the filling operation in a safe and proper manner. Any failure of the whistle to sound during the normal filling of the tank and prior to the rising liquid reaching that level at which the signal is to be given, indicates to the operator that filling must be stopped at once and the cause of failure of the whistle investigated. If the whistle is in proper operating condition, failure to sound will indicate that either there is an unclosed opening in the tank which, if filling continued, would result in overflow, or that the tank is filled so that no more liquid can be received. If the whistle sounds properly, the operator is advised that the requirements for safe filling are being met, namely, that all tank openings except that through the signalling device and vent pipe are closed and that the liquid level is still below the depending intrusion tube of the signalling device.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that it is absolutely necessary that the whistle be maintained in proper operarting condition at all times if the operator is to be correctly advised. To this end it has been found advisable to provide further subdivisions of the venting passage of which the whistle is part for preventing the entrance of insects into the whistle while at the same time causing no impairment of the whistle sound. Various other expedients have been tried, heretofore one such being the placing of screening in the pipe. This, however, is undesirable and contrary to safety rules where the screening unduly restricts venting capacity. Screening is also time consuming to install and hence relatively expensive.

The present invention, both as to the complete signalling unit and the whistle construction itself, are effective to overcome previous disadvantages. The improvement is effected at little expense, is installed at the factory and therefore imposes no extra burden on the installation man. It is of such character as to keep out insects large enough to affect the whistle while at the same time being of construction to cause no appreciable change in the sound of the whistle during normal operation.

This invention will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a signalling device incorporating the invention and mounted between the top of a tank and a vent pipe.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top of the whistle alone showing one form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a planview of the top of a whistle showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modification mounted on the top of the whistle.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a further modification of the invention in which the exit or discharge end of the whistle is subdivided into a plurality of i passages by vertical fins.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to Fig. 1, 2 represents the top of the tank into which is screwed in the normal manner a whistle housing 4. To the upper end of the housing is screwed vent pipe 6.

Thehousing 4 has a circular seat 8 on which rests ball valve 10. Ball valve 10 operates as a relief valve against excess tank pressure and provides support for a whistle 12 of the customary button type illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7. The whistle has an upper opening 14 and a lower opening 16 of which the former is usually slightly larger.

trapped, -.but gas venting through opening 20 is distortedand does not cause sounding of the whistle.

As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the whistle consists of an outer cup shaped element 22 which contains opening 16 and an inner inverted cup shaped element 24 iii) which contains opening 14. These two cups when fitted together constitute the whistle and are prevented from separation by the crimped upper edge 26 of the outer cup which overlies the upper edge of the inner cup 24. 1

The construction'thus far described provides, as can be seen from inspection of Fig. 1, a first passage 27 of relatively large size through which gas will flow when the pressure in the tank becomes sufficiently large to lift ball valve 10 from its seat. Then there is a second passage 29 starting-through the intrusion tube 18 and continuing upward in series with the openings 16 and 14 of the whistle.

As the second passage 29 discharges from the top of the whistle through opening 14, it is further subdivided into a plurality of smaller passages whose aggregate In series with the whistle and extend-. ingdownwardly from it and the ball valve is an incapacity close to the whistle is very nearly that of the whistle opening 14 and of increasing capacity as the subdivided passages move upwardly away from the whistle.

In a preferred form these smaller passages are provided with wires which are laid directlyacross the top opening 14 of the whistle 12. v

While two wires have been shown across the top opening in the several figures, it is to be understood that one or perhaps three wires could be used. Preferably, however, two wires provide the best insurance against insects entering the whistle while at the same time, the total crosssectional area of the wires is suflicientl-y small to cause substantially no diminution or-change in the sound of the whistle'as it functions during the fillingof the tank.

The wires as illustrated cannot be too large or too numerous, for if so, the sound will be adversely affected. Conversely, the space between the wires and the edges of the whistle aperture must be small enough so that those insects that would otherwise impair whistle operation cannot get to the interior of the whistle.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the wires consist of two separate members 28 and 30, the ends of which are clamped between the crimped over edge 26 of cup 22 against the upper rim of cup 24- L r Y The openings past the wires through opening 14 into the resonance chamber of the whistle, however, are small enough to prevent the entrance of those insects which habitually tend to enter vent pipes and whistles of this type. y

In Figs. 4 and is illustrated another manner of securing wires 32 and 34. Here, they are stapled into the top 36 ofthe whistle with the ends being turned under-as at 38 in Fig. 5.

Another method of applying the wires is shown in Fig.- 6 and Fig. 7. Here, a single wire 40 is bent to the configuration shown whereby there will be sufficient spring characteristics so that the ends 42 and 44 which have hook-like elements 46 and 48 may be sprung apart and snapped over the exterior of cup 22 at diametrically opposite points. In this way, wire 40 is maintained in position so that the two central legs 50 and 52 of the U-shaped part will be positioned across opening 14.

It will be understood from the foregoing explanation that other ways may be devised for holding one or more wires in suitable position. over the top of the whistle. The criterion, however, is that the wires, regardless of number, must not adversely affect the whistling properties of the unit, but at the same time, must reduce the upper whistle opening to a plurality of passages small enough to prevent the entrance of insects.

Instead of using wires for producing the plurality of smaller passages into which the-second passage 29 above the whistle is subdivided, it may be'done by the meet vertical fins 50 as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and ii). These fins may be of indeterminate length, but preferably they terminate within the housing 4. They could, however, be longer and extend upwardly to a position where they would enter the lower end of the vent pipe 6.

As shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the fins 50 with tabs 52 may be spot welded, soldered or otherwise secured to the whistle top 36 and so positioned to extend across the opening 14 to provide three small passages 54, 56 and 58. Since the fins 5d are thin and straight, they do not interfere withthe flow of gas so that thewhistle resonance is not destroyed and the whistle tone is substantiallyunafiected. The gas after having passed through the-smaller passages established by the fins 50, merges with the first passage thereabove as indicated at 60 in Fig. 1. The

merging will occur ordinarily within the housing or cas-.

ing 4, but may be within the vent pipe if the subdividing elements forming the third passage are long enough.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen. for

purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A liquid level indicator for use in connection with the filling of a closed tank in which the said tank has a plurality of openings in its top one of which is a vent opening, said indicator comprising a casing adapted to be placed in series with said tank and vent pipe and including a plurality of passages therethrough for the escape of gaseous fluid from the tank, one of said passages being restricted by yieldable means responsive to pressure within the tank, a second passage of less capacity than said first passage and including a whistle as an integral part of said second passage, said second passage discharging into a plurality of smaller passages, said smaller passages merging with the said first passage, said smaller passages being of such size as to prevent entry into the resonance chamber of said whistle of insects that would otherwise be capable of destroying the resonance of said whistle 'by undue obstruction through the whistle passage.

2. A liquid level indicator as set forth in claim 1 said smaller passages being of relatively short length and merging with said first passage within said casing.

3. A liquid level indicator as set forth in claim 1', saids'na-ller passages being formed by elements attached tothesaid whistle.

4. A liquid level indicator as set forth in claim 1, said smaller passages being formed by elements in the form of wires,

5. A liquid level indicator as set forth in claim- 1=, said smaller passages being formed by elements in the form of thin sheets, the upper ends of which terminate within said casing.

6. A whistle for use in an audible signalling device of the type used in filling closed tanks, said whistle having upper and lower aligned openings with one or more protective elements fixed with respect tosaid-whistleextending across said upper opening, said elements being small enough in cross-sectional dimension so that the sound producing characteristics of said whistle will notbe" appreciably affected by the presence of said elements,

said elements acting to sub-divide said upper opening into areas small enough to preclude entrance into said whistle. of insects large enough to cause'mal'functioning of said whistle.

7-. A whistle for use in an audible signalling device of the type used in filling closed tanks as set forth in claim 6, said element being in the form of a wire.

- A whistle for use in an audible signalling device of the type used in filling closed tanks as set forth in claim 6, said elements being in the form of two'or-more non intersecting wires.

9. A whistle for use in an audible signalling device of the type used in filling closed tanks as set forth in claim 6, saidwhistle comprising two telescoping portions,"the ends of said elements being secured between said telescoping portions.

1 0. A whistle for use in an audible signalling device of of the type used in filling closed tanks as setforth in claim 6, the said whistle being mounted in a valve'element" and having an-intrusiontube extending downwardly therefrom- References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,084 Horton, et al Jan. 26, 1932 2,135,522 Mathey Nov. s, 1938 Scully Nov. 28, 1950} 

